House Spiders in Missouri: What They Are and When to Worry
By Jacob Ingledue
Table of Contents
By Jacob Ingledue
The short answer: the spider building a messy web in your garage or basement is most likely the common house spider, and its bite is not considered medically significant.
The Missouri Department of Conservation says the bite of this species is not considered medically significant, and that at worst it could be similar to a bee sting.
They catch flying insects in the web, including mosquitoes, flies, wasps, Asian lady beetles and cockroaches.
They build where prey passes and where it is quiet. Garages, basements and window frames fit both.
Knock down webs and egg sacs, seal gaps around doors and windows, reduce clutter, and cut down on the outdoor lighting that draws insects. Removing egg sacs matters because each one can hold 100 to 400 eggs. If you are not sure it is a house spider, check our guide to brown spiders in Missouri, and see common spiders in Missouri for other species. Basements have their own fixes in how to get rid of spiders in your basement, and whether vinegar kills spiders is answered here.
If the numbers keep coming back, our Springfield spider control team and our Kansas City pest control team can help. Book a free inspection and we’ll take a look.
Are house spiders dangerous? The common house spider’s bite is not considered medically significant.
Why are there so many in my garage? They build near prey and in quiet places like garage doors, basements and behind open doors.
Do I need to remove the egg sacs? Removing them stops a new batch hatching. Each sac can hold 100 to 400 eggs.
Is it a brown recluse? Not if it has a messy tangled web and a whitish patch on the abdomen. A brown recluse has a violin mark and six eyes.
Source: Missouri Department of Conservation, Common House Spider.
